Psychiatric Epidemiology - Northern Finland Birth Cohort studies 1966 and 1986

The research group investigates different topics relating to psychiatric epidemiology. The research topics include for instance risk and outcome research on psychosis, depression and alcohol use. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are a major public health problem and leading unsolved disease afflicting about 3-4 % of the population. In Finland, the prevalence of any psychotic disorder is even higher; 4.5 %. Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder manifesting combined environmental and genetic causation. To date, the candidate risk factors include e.g. advanced paternal age, obstetric complications, cannabis use, motor dysfunction, urbanicity, and low IQ. Data from Northern Finland birth cohorts have underpinned many of these key findings. Depression is major public health concern and affect about 10% of population. Rick factors include various biological and social factors, personality and life events. The team investigates also psychosocial factors on cancer and effect of temperament on physical and mental health. The team has long experience in epidemiology and access to unique data sets, the findings are likely to have both clinical and public health influence.